Rs 39,000 Crore Boost for Rourkela Steel Plant: HD Kumaraswamy announces major brownfield–greenfield expansion

Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy unveiled an ambitious expansion blueprint for the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), marking one of the largest investment pushes in Odisha’s steel sector in recent years.

The Minister announced a Rs 9,000 crore brownfield expansion and a Rs 30,000 crore greenfield project, aimed at nearly doubling RSP’s production capacity from 4.5 MTPA to 9.8 MTPA.

RSP a “pillar of India’s steel story: H.D. Kumaraswamy

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Calling RSP a “pillar of India’s steel story,” Kumaraswamy said it was a proud moment to visit the country’s first Public Sector Integrated Steel Plant. He praised the plant’s six-decade-long contribution to India’s industrial growth and acknowledged the consistent rise in its production and efficiency.

The Minister also praised the efforts of the plant’s workforce. “I congratulate the RSP collective for the substantial improvements in productivity and techno-economics,” he said.

New facilities inaugurated

During his visit, Kumaraswamy inaugurated the state-of-the-art 1 MTPA Slab Caster at Steel Melting Shop-2, developed with a capital expenditure of Rs 1,100 crore.

He also inspected ongoing work on the Coke Oven Battery 7 and the new Pellet Plant, both key components of RSP’s modernization drive.

He highlighted that the Odisha Group of Mines had increased raw material output by over 5 per cent this year and was expected to cross 15 million tonnes in FY 2025–26, strengthening RSP’s raw material security.

Rs 39,000 crore investment to shape Rourkela’s next growth phase

The Minister affirmed that both brownfield and greenfield expansions would be transformational for the plant and the region.

He emphasized that the Ministry was in continuous coordination with the Odisha Government to ensure smooth progress of all upcoming projects.

Boost to jobs, MSMEs & Odisha’s Economy

Kumaraswamy said the expansion would guide in “fresh waves of prosperity” for the region. Increased capacity would not only create more employment opportunities for local youth, but also offer greater prospects for MSMEs, suppliers, and peripheral industries.

The upgraded RSP is expected to emerge as a major hub for high-quality and specialty steel.

PM Modi’s vision of 300 MT nationals steel capacity

By linking the project to the national objectives, he reaffirmed the government's promise made under the National Steel Policy to increase the steel production capacity of India to 300 million tonnes by 2030–31.

He emphasized that the priority of the government is still to cut imports and increase the production of specialty steel by means of the PLI scheme.

The Rourkela Steel Plant, equipped with huge investments, modern infrastructure, and a clear plan, is ready to be a major contributor to the next stage of industrial growth in India.